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Letters Patent o. 95,632, dated October 12, 1869.

IIWPROVIE'IMENT IN IREIEFLS.v

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part o2 the same.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES H. BARKER, of the city of Vashington, in the District of Oolumbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Reels for holding Skeins of Silk, Thread, Cotton, or Worsted; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description 0f the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification.-

, Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of reel open.

Figure,2 is a view of reel closed up.

Figure 3 is a View of arm and claw.

My invention consists in an improvement in the construction of reels now in use for holding skeins of silk, Ste.; and

Its object is to have a more compact and reliable article than the ones hitherto in use for that purpose, it being portable, and accommodating itself lto any sized skein. l

To enable others skilled in the art to make use of my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A represents a square block, with a hole through the centre.

B is an arm attached to the side of the block by means of a screw near one end, allowing a rotary motion.

C represents a claw, attached to the slide D by a rivet, allowing it to fold over upon .the arm B.

D represents a slide, fitting neatly the arm B, to which is attached, on the outer side, the claw O, and,

Aon the inner side, the hook F.

E is a small India-rubber band, which is placed over the hooks F and G, thus drawing the slide D, with claw() attached, outward, so that any-sized skein may be placed around 'the claws, and kept in proper tension.

When the reel is open and ready for use, as in fig. 1,-l

the claws are all drawn outward' by the India-rubber bands, after having been turned out at right angles with the arms, and them. The arms are prevented from coming beyond a perpendicular by the small pins marked K.

I represents a clamp.

H is a rod, attached to Aclamp by means of a rivet at one end, allowing a rotary motion, the other end passing through the centre of block A, and riveted on the outside, allowing the block to revolve.

When the reel is folded up, as in fig. 2, the clamp l I is turned in line with the rod H. The arms B are turned in same line, and the claws C are folded over upon the arms B, and placed against the hooks L, thus making it of a compact and portable size, the claws O being retained in their folded position by being forced, by means of the springs E, against the points of the hooks L. l

I am aware that expanding-reels are in use for holding skeins of different sizes, but these reels, as far as the skein is then placed around 

